This paper shares a vision of the future of institutional research (IR) for the 21st century, in which institutional researchers learn to see themselves as the critical knowledge workers in the higher education industry. To take on this role, IR needs to: (1) understand the concepts of knowledge management (KM); (2) use new tools to meet the onslaught of information requests; (3) incorporate personal knowledge management; (4) view networking as a way of life; (5) help transform management by the use of stories in decision making; and (6) take risks and become data entrepreneurs and "infomediaries." (Contains 32 references.) (Author/SLD)